FreeType on Android
lazarus / 43-Android

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jmpessoa · 2013-09-02 04:38

Hi there!

I got this messages/logs

"C:\laz4android\fpc\2.7.1\bin\i386-win32\arm-linux-androideabi-ld.exe:
cannot find -lfreetype"

 "error: Error while linking"

when I tried use these units: FTFont, freetype, freetypeh on my
android module (.so).

Anyone know how to cross-compile the FreeType library stuff for
Android using the TrueTom package laz4android1.1-41139?

Thank you!

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Leledumbo · 2013-09-03 15:06

QuoteAnyone know how to cross-compile the FreeType library stuff for
Android using the TrueTom package laz4android1.1-41139? Build the
freetype library for your android and put the .so along with your app
.so or drop dependency to freetype library by using native Pascal
freetype implementation.

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jmpessoa · 2013-09-03 18:23

Hi Leledumbo,

1. The main question:  How to
cross-compile the FreeType library stuff for Android using the TrueTom
package laz4android1.1-41139 ( I need this for compatibility)

At the moment I do not know to do this ... 

2.Alternative question: Is LazFreeType LCL dependent (or not) ?

Thank you very much!

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Leledumbo · 2013-09-04 14:57

Quote1. The main question:  How to
cross-compile the FreeType library stuff for Android using the TrueTom
package laz4android1.1-41139 ( I need this for compatibility)Got
Android NDK? Got FreeType source code? Build the source code using NDK
toolchain (the source code should have instruction how to do it).
FreeType is written in C, so you'll need a C compiler (and probably a
bunch of other libraries it depends on) to build.
Quote2.Alternative question: Is LazFreeType LCL dependent (or not)
?Seems not (see attached screenshot, from PasViz output)

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jmpessoa · 2013-09-04 18:05

Thank you! I am will try LazFreeType!

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jmpessoa · 2013-09-08 18:18

Hi there!

from https://github.com/cdave1/freetype2-android
(and small changes to produce a SHARED_LIBRARY)

I got  cross-compile the FreeType library stuff for Android and
bind with free pascal stuff (FTFont, freetype, freetypeh)!

Yes, we can run fcl-image + freetype on Android!

thanks to all!

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jmpessoa · 2013-09-10 03:34

Hi there!

Follows a picture (attached) showing a small example of
my attempt to bring Free Pascal  fci-image + freetype to play on
Android....

Greetings!

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jmpessoa · 2013-12-29 15:54

@Sergionn

follow my "primitive "investigations in using freetype2 lib on
android...

I - How to build a freetype ".so" for Android... on Windows.

  I.1- You have to install e configure MinGW (32 bits)  to cross
compile "C" stuff to Android...

  I.2- I got from https://github.com/cdave1/freetype2-android the
freetype "C" stuff...  and build a Eclipse project  with small changes
in
"Android.mk"  and  "Application.mk" to produce a SHARED_LIBRARY...

  :: My Eclipse Project to make "FreeType" is here:

     http://jmpessoa.opendrive.com/files?Ml8zNzY0NTA2Ml8zcWZTRA

   ::After (un)rar:

 -> open the project with Eclipse and "right click" -> Properties
 -> Edit: Builder -> Freetype_builder .... to you paths....
 -> Run!
 -> Open \libs\armeabi and \libs\armeabi-v7a
      Yes!  "libfreetype.so"  are there!

II. Using the new "libfreetype.so"

    - Just create a project and put the "libfreetype.so" in
        \libs\armeabi   (or: \libs\armeabi-v7a) !

     :: My Eclipse "Demo "Project is here:

        http://jmpessoa.opendrive.com/files?Ml8zNzY0Njk5Ml9BbnQ4Yw  

Good luck!

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Sergionn · 2013-12-29 18:05

Jmpessoa, Thanks a lot!!!

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jmpessoa · 2013-12-30 17:34

Hi,

@Sergionn,

I forgot to tell you.  The "libfreetype.so" that you got from  my
"primitive" investigations was built for platform "android-8". Please,
change the Android.mk"  and  "Application.mk" to produce a
SHARED_LIBRARY for other platform, ex. "android-14"...

Thank you.

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lenz · 2013-12-30 20:16

This is great work! I'll get my hands dirty with FreeType now.

As a small note, what I understood is that you should use the most
recent Android NDK version for building and for run-time, it will
remain compatible with lower OS versions. I'm compiling everything
using NDK-R9B (and will soon try R9C) without any issues and it works
on devices from KitKat down to Gingerbread.

Another note, I wouldn't suggest targeting Android-8 at all because
Froyo doesn't support native activities and is very scarce anyway. In
my case, I had to switch ROMs on my Galaxy Pro to Gingerbread (before
it had Froyo) just to be able to run anything on it.

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jmpessoa · 2013-12-30 20:33

@lenz

Yes, 

This example was built for "android-8" platform,   but this is
outdated now....

Please, change "Application.mk"  file.

Thank you.